And that sparked a rebellion among his fans, with some apparently perceiving his message as a betrayal to his supporters. It’s clear where the battlefield is, too: the #RIPBeliebers hashtag on Twitter.

One side is in support of Justin.

He didn’t choose anyone, y’all throw a big tantrum when he just asked to stop HATE, Pathetic to think I’m part of this fandom #RIPBeliebers

And even though there are so many sides to this discussion — which, ultimately, is all any hashtag is — the basic takeaway is simple. There’s a good amount of Bieber fans who feel betrayed, particularly after defending him over the years.

Lol I’ve defended this guy for 6 years, I’ve been with him through thick and thin. I’m done. Unstanning. #RipBeliebers